Angara urges public: Don't pressure LGUs to suspend classes
'Nakikiusap din kami sa publiko, mga magulang, mga estudyante. Huwag natin masyadong i-pressure ang ating local government, chief executives na konting ulan mag-suspend na tayo dahil pag sinumatotal natin ang nawawalang araw, malaki ang dagok o tama sa ating mga estudyante, yung tinatawag na learning loss,' Angara said in an ambush interview on Monday.
(We appeal to the public, to parents, to students. Let's avoid pressuring our local government officials to suspend classes every time it rains lightly, because when we total all the days we missed, the impact on our students is huge—this what we call learning loss.)
He said the Department of Education (DepEd) is now requiring schools to hold make-up classes to ensure students can still complete the required learning hours.
'Yung ini-emphasize namin that there must be make-up classes kasi matindi na yung learning loss talaga. Apektado ang bata pag masyadong maraming cancellation," he said.
(We're emphasizing that there must be make-up classes because the learning loss is already severe. Students are really affected when there are too many cancellations.)
These make-up sessions, however, do not have to fall on weekends.
'Saturday or after school kung kailan. Depende rin sa availability ng guro," he added.
(It could be on Saturdays or after school hours—depending on the availability of teachers.)
Catching up
Angara's statement comes as the country continues to face worsening academic performance among learners, particularly in reading and math.
He said DepEd is ramping up its interventions through the ARAL Program, which provides personalized tutorial and remediation sessions.
'Well it's still quite significant especially sa literacy at math. So we're addressing it this year with the Aral program. Nakita natin na very effective yung pagbibigay ng personalized tutorials," Angara noted.
(The proficiency gap is still quite significant, especially in literacy and math. So we're addressing that this year through the Aral program. We've seen that giving personalized tutorials is very effective.)
He also credited President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his strong support of education reforms, including an expanded feeding program, hiring of more teachers, additional classrooms, and hiring of non-teaching staff to reduce the burden on educators.
The National Launch of the Expanded School-Based Feeding Program held in Antipolo City, which officially kicked off the rollout of the improved initiative targeting thousands of kindergarten pupils across the country.
DepEd said the school-based feeding program has been expanded to cover 120 days and now applies to all kindergarten students nationwide—marking the first time the program has gone fully universal at that level.
'Nasa 120 days na tayo. At the first time universal feeding, ibig sabihin lahat ng bata sa kindergarten ay kasama sa feeding program this year. Dahil yun talaga ang instruction sa amin ni Secretary Ted Herbosa ni Pangulong Marcos na palawigin, palawakin, palalimin itong school feeding program natin,' Angara said.
(We're now at 120 days. And for the first time, it's universal feeding—meaning all kindergarten children are included in the program this year. That's really the instruction given to us by Health Secretary Ted Herbosa and President Marcos: to expand and solidify the school feeding program.)
'Parang dati parang nasa 30-60 days lang. So ngayon umabot tayo ng 120 days," he added.
(Before, it used to be only around 30 to 60 days. Now we've reached 120 days.) — RF, GMA Integrated News
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But calls for education reforms further escalated when it was revealed in congressional hearings earlier this year that approximately 5.58 million high school graduates, including junior high school completers aged 10 to 64, were considered 'functionally illiterate" because of a lack of comprehension skills. Angara said that the DepEd has been taking action to address the issue in order to prepare the children for a better future. Among the agency's interventions, he said, are intensifying remedial and literacy programs and the use of data in schools. He said teaching and assessment methods have also been improved, and the students are being honed to be critical thinkers and have 21st-century skills, instead of merely memorizing lessons. DepEd also revised its class suspension protocols, allowing schools and local government units (LGUs) to have more discretion when it comes to the declaration depending on real-time conditions. Before, classes were automatically canceled under any public storm signals. Angara thus reminded school officials and LGUs to be prudent in declaring class suspensions, emphasizing the need for learning continuity and to minimize learning loss. Also included in the agency's interventions in times of calamity is the rollout of durable and mobile modular classrooms that will replace temporary learning spaces in disaster-hit areas. Digitalization, connectivity Aside from addressing the classroom gap, Marcos in his last SONA said that the digital gap should also be addressed with as much intensity. The President then expressed hope that all students will be equipped with computers, smart TVs, essential programs, digital books, and access to reliable power and internet connection. 'Digitalization and solar-powered electricity must now be standard features in our schools and in our classrooms. Simply put, this is educational reform through technology,' he said. 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With millions of students needing help and an entire generation at risk of being left behind, eyes and ears are now turned to Marcos' next SONA to know his next moves to improve the quality of education in the country. —LDF/RSJ/NB, GMA Integrated News
